Top 5 budget World Cup rentals

If you don’t have the kind of bank balance that will support an R80,000 a night rental, why not stay in one these infinitely more affordable options? We give you the bottom of the barrel pricing options for 2010 World Cup rentals

Based on the same principle as house swopping (see number 2, below), couch surfing allows people from around the world to share in a mutually rewarding principle of global hospitality. In this case, South Africans would advertise what they have available – from a spare room to the proverbial (and literal) spare couch, and travellers would apply to secure a spot.

Hosts benefit from meeting new people from far-off lands without leaving home and travellers get to immerse themselves in the daily life of a local household and, perhaps, to return the favour in kind at a later date.

Couch surfing is completely free and relatively simple. To sign up and become one of over 800 000 verified couch-surfers, visit the website at www.couchsurfing.com

Almost free: home exchange

Swopping your home abroad for local South African accommodation is a straightforward and inexpensive process. By registering your home on one of the many international 2010 home exchange websites – for a small fee – you will be able to browse through a wide range of accommodation in South Africa.

You’ll need to find someone who’s keen on a trip to the UK and settle on a deal that’s favourable to both parties, but it’s worth the homework – both in terms of savings and for the comfort of a home over an impersonal hotel. You can find both short- and longer-term accommodation, including houses, apartments, flats, town homes, condos, chalets, cabins, beach houses and villas.

Visit the Global Home Exchange website to find out more about 2010 World Cup house swops: www.4homex.com

From R70: camping sites

Why not go back to basics and find yourself a cheap camping site to pitch your tent for the duration of the World Cup?

Many see camping as a disorderly and uncivilised way to spend a holiday, but if you are careful about your choice of campsite this needn’t be the case. Spend as much time as possible exploring your nearest town or city and use your campsite as solely a base in the evenings.

Most campsites cost anything from R70 per person per night. To find yourself the perfect place to camp during the 2010 World Cup visit www.linx.co.za

R170 – R600: South African National Parks

South Africa is renowned for its magnificent wildlife and pristine scenery. Staying in a South African wildlife reserve during the World Cup is a novel and travel-savvy option – you’ll get to experience this natural beauty and with the World Cup festivities all in one trip.

Choose from tented safari camps, forest cabins, rondavels, chalets, “oceanettes” or more elaborate guest houses, all of which are situated in one of 15 national parks scattered across the country. Prices range from R170 per person per night in safari tents to R600 per person per night in upmarket guest houses. For more information visit the Sanparks website at www.sanparks.org

R180 – R600: youth hostels and backpackers’ lodges

As the seasoned traveller knows, hostels and backpackers’ lodges are always easier on the pocket than hotels. There’s a common conception that this type of accommodation is either dirty or cramped (or both!), but that’s not always the case and it’s certainly worth considering if you intend to spend most of your time out and about and plan to hit the sack late at night.

You will save a small fortune on accommodation and force yourself to do some exploring, too. Prices range from R180 per person per night to R600 per person per night. Look for reasonable accommodation on popular hostel sites such aswww.hostelworld.com and www.hostelbookers.com

Fancy staying in something a little more exclusive? Read Top 5 most exclusive rentals.

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